first impressions community exchange questionnaire

“Seeing things in a whole new light”

FIRSTIMPRESSIONSCOMMUNITYEXCHANGE TEAM MEMBER’SGUIDE BOOKLET

Table of Contents

Visiting Team Member Information ................................................................ 1

Prior to Your Visit ............................................................................................. 5

The Five Minute Impression ............................................................................ 6

Community Entrances ...................................................................................... 9

Housing and Residential Areas ..................................................................... 13

Education, Health, Social and Emergency Services ..................................... 17

Local Economy: Downtown, Retail, Industry ................................................ 23

Professional, Commercial and Government Services ................................... 37

Public Infrastructure and Planning ................................................................ 40

Tourism, Culture and Heritage, Faith, Entertainment and Recreation ......... 45

Information from Community Residents ....................................................... 53

Wrap-up ......................................................................................................... 59

First Impressions Community Exchange Photo Log ...................................... 64

First Impressions Community Exchange Team Member’s Guide Booklet 1

Visiting Team Member Information

You have volunteered to be a member of our community’s Visiting Team in a FirstImpressions Community Exchange. Thank you for your commitment.

Along with other Visiting Team Members, you will make a short incognito visit toan exchange community you are not familiar with and record your first impressions.You are not expected to offer expert advice – you are simply expected to give anoutsider’s honest viewpoint on various aspects of the exchange community.

Visiting Team Members travel together to the exchange community. You willtour the community, take photos, interact with people and businesses, completea questionnaire and return it to the Coordinator.

A group drive through the community usually starts off the tour. Then, differentmembers of the team split up in pairs or individually to role-play during the visit. Forexample, you could be asked to play someone who is a new resident, a personconsidering moving to the area, a tourist, or someone looking to open a busi-ness. The role you have will determine some of the places you visit and ques-tions you ask.

Your questions might include:

• I’ve never been here before. What is there to do for recreation?

• Are there any good restaurants in this town? Where would be a goodplace for lunch?

• I might bring my family here on our way to a wedding next month. Arethere any good places to stay?

• I may move to this area. Are the schools good here? Where is the bestplace to look for housing?

• Where can I get information on commercial space to buy or lease in thiscommunity?

You need to be discreet as you record observations and seek out informationabout the community you visit. Before you complete your visit, your Teamshould reconvene to see if any photos are needed of key sites and locations.

Activities During The Visit

First Impressions Community Exchange Team Member’s Guide Booklet2

Time Commitment

There are preparations you will need to make before the visit as well as follow-upreporting tasks.

The pre-visit preparations may take 2 hours of your time. You will need to reviewthe questionnaire, maps and checklists and participate in arranging trip logistics.The Coordinator will give you detailed information on meeting spots, things youneed to bring along, and discuss any arrangements for covering costs such asfuel and meals. You will be provided with any necessary equipment, such aspens, a clipboard, a note pad and a camera.

Depending on the distance to your exchange community, travel time by car maytake up to 2 1/2 hours each way. Typically, the visit itself is going to take 6-10hours and the follow-up report writing may take an additional 2 hours or so.

In addition, one or two members of the team with skills and experience in makingpresentations will be selected to present the results of the team’s work to theexchange community within 4-6 weeks of the visit. Providing constructive criticism and praise always requires some diplomacy. Careful attention to thewords and phrases contained in the report is necessary. Preparing for this pres-entation and going back to the exchange community to present it could addanother day to the time commitment.

Depending on your role on the team your volunteer commitment may range from1 to 3 working days.

The exchange element of the First Impressions Community Exchange is based onthe notion that all communities can learn from their peers. A First Impressionsvisit can give you new insights about your own community. Based on hundredsof U.S. exchanges in Illinois and Wisconsin, and over 2 dozen visits in Ontario,visiting teams often return with good ideas for a new project to implement intheir hometown, after seeing something in place in the exchange community.

A Learning Opportunity


Tips

Remember:

• We’ll get better information if residents do not know we are there toassess the community.

• Try to discover not only their warts, but also the ways in which they shine!

• Feel free to record additional community strengths and weaknesses notincluded on the assessment guide.

• Appear to be shopping, conducting business, or making a social visit.

• Strike up casual conversations with residents.

• Be observant.

• Have a good time!

Remember to use this questionnaire as a guide. There may be variationsto the questions that are more fitting to the community you are visiting.

WHERE YOU ARE ASKED TO RATE SOMETHING, USE THE FOLLOWINGAS A GUIDE:

1 – Needs urgent attention/action

2-4 – Needs improvement

5 – Satisfactory

6-9 – Good/Very Good

10 – Excellent! You should be telling others about this!

In the spaces provided, give specific (rather than general) commentson both the positive aspects of the community, and areas where youfeel changes/improvements could be made.

Thanks and Good Luck!

About the Questionnaire


What is your impression of the community before your upcoming visit? What are you expecting to see? Please comment on what you know about this community.

FOR VISITING TEAM COORDINATORS:

How easy was it to get information by mail and telephone about the communityyou are visiting? Are you satisfied with the quality of information received? Didthe information arrive in a timely fashion?

Prior to Your Visit


Please rate and comment on the community’s online materials and information(only answer if you were assigned the task of reviewing the community’s website).

Observations:

After taking a five-minute drive through the community without stopping, whatwas your first impression?

The Five Minute Impression

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Needs Urgent Satisfactory ExcellentAttention

Comm

unityEntrances/H

ousing

COMMUNITY ENTRANCES/HOUSING .............


Community Entrances – Road/Highway

Approach the community from the major entrances. Rate and commenton each entrance.

ENTRANCE #1 _____________________________________________

How favourable an impression of the community does this entrance provide?

ENTRANCE #2 _____________________________________________


(Road name and direction)


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ENTRANCE #3 _____________________________________________


ENTRANCE #4 _____________________________________________




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Community Entrances – Road/Highway(continued)


ENTRANCE #5 _____________________________________________


ENTRANCE #6 _____________________________________________


Community Entrances – Air, Rail and Bus Terminal (if applicable)

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(Air/Rail/Harbour/Bus terminal)


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ENTRANCE #7 _____________________________________________


Community Entrances – Air, Rail and Bus Terminal (if applicable) (continued)

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Housing and Residential Areas

Drive through as many neighbourhoods as possible, including theDowntown.

How would you rate the overall quality, affordability, and availability of housingin the community?

QUALITY TYPE OF HOUSING(rating 1-10)

_______ Existing/Older Homes

_______ Senior Citizen Housing

_______ New Construction

_______ Apartments/Rental Housing

Is there an adequate mix of housing to suit a variety of income levels?

What are the most appealing features of the housing in this community? Why?

What are the least appealing features of housing in the community? Why?


Housing and Residential Areas (continued)

Please comment on the quality and availability of residential infrastructure(e.g., roads, sidewalks, lighting, public transportation and green space).

How would you rate the overall appeal of housing to the following groups?

APPEAL GROUP(rating 1-10)

_______ Single young adults

_______ Young families

_______ Middle income

_______ Senior citizen

_______ Upscale/professional

Education/H

ealth/Social/Em

ergencyServices

EDUCATION/HEALTH/SOCIAL/EMERGENCY SERVICES .....................................


Education, Health, Social and Emergency Services

EDUCATION

Comment on the availability and appearance of schools.

Pre-school/Daycare

Primary/Elementary

High School

College/University


What do residents (young and old) think about the quality and availability oftheir local schools?

Overall, how would you rate the quality and availability of schools for a communityof this size?

HEALTH CARE SERVICES

Comment on the availability and apparent quality of healthcare facilities.Hospitals:

Education, Health, Social and Emergency Services (continued)

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Physician and dentist offices and clinics:

Long-term care and nursing home facilities:

Other health services (e.g., Chiropractor, physiotherapy, naturopath, massage)

Overall, how would you rate the adequacy of health care services for a community of this size?


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SOCIAL SERVICES

What social services (e.g., day care, senior’s centre, counselling) are available in the community?

What types of not-for-profit organizations and clubs are within the community?

EMERGENCY SERVICES

Do residents feel fire, ambulance and policing services are adequate?


LocalEconomy

LOCAL ECONOMY ...............................................


What is your impression of the overall health of the local economy?

DOWNTOWN

Explore the downtown and visit as many businesses as possible.

Could you locate the downtown easily? Why or why not?

Rate and comment on the overall appearance of the downtown.

Rate and comment on the variety of shopping in the downtown.

Local EconomyDowntown, Retail and Industry

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Local EconomyDowntown, Retail and Industry (continued)


Rate and comment on the customer service you received in the downtown.

Rate and comment on the signage in the downtown.

Rate and comment on the window displays in the downtown.

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Rate and comment on the variety and quality of merchandise in the downtown.

Comment on the mix of facilities and services in the downtown (housing, professionalservices, retail, recreation, accommodation & food, industry, parks, etc.).

Rate and comment on the quality and availability of parking in the downtown.


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Rate and comment on the quality (appearance, adequacy, etc.) of lighting inthe downtown.

Does the downtown play a role in tourism? Is there potential for the downtownto play a greater role?

Describe the residential housing mix in the downtown (e.g., apartment, singledetached, main street).

Would you find the downtown to be a desirable place to live?


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GENERAL INFORMATION ABOUT OVERALL RETAIL

Describe the mix of retail shopping available (malls, specialty shops, stripmalls, big box stores) throughout the community.

What retail goods do local residents appear to need to travel to surroundingcommunities to buy?

What stores or services were missing that you would expect to find?

What retail stores or services did you find that were unusual or unexpected fora town of this size?



What store(s) in this community would you travel a distance of more than 40kilometres to patronize?

Rate the overall condition of the retail sector.ECIFIC RETAIL SHOPPING A

(e.g., Malls, Big Box stores, etc.


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SPECIFIC RETAIL SHOPPING AREAS

If applicable, explore other retail shopping areas and visit as manybusinesses as possible.

RETAIL AREA #1

Type (Shopping mall etc.): _____________________________________

Location: __________________________________________________

Rate and comment on the overall appearance.

Rate and comment on the variety of shopping.

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Rate and comment on the customer service at the businesses you visited.

Rate and comment on the variety and quality of merchandise.


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RETAIL AREA #2

If there is not a second retail shopping area, leave this section blank.

Type: ____________________________________________________

Location: __________________________________________________

Rate and comment on the overall appearance.

Rate and comment on the variety of shopping.


1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10


1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10




Rate and comment on the customer service at the businesses you visited.

Rate and comment on the variety and quality of merchandise.

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10


1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10



Specific Retail Shopping Areas (continued)

LOCAL INDUSTRIES

Consider industries only within or adjacent to the community

What are the major industrial sectors in the community (e.g., manufacturing,construction, transportation)?

Who do you think are the major employers in the community?

What are the major types of manufacturing in the community?

What are the major types of primary industry in the community (e.g. agriculture, mining, forestry or fishing)?




Is the community noticeably dependent on any one type of industry? If so, please comment.

Is there an industrial park or serviced land where industries could locate orexpand? Explain.

Are the industrial facilities well maintained? Explain.

Would this community be an attractive location for industrial development?Why or why not?

Professional,Com

mercialand

Governm

entServices

etc.

PROFESSIONAL, COMMERCIAL AND GOVERNMENT SERVICES

PUBLIC INFRASTRUCTURE AND PLANNING .................................................


Professional, Commercial and Government Services

PROFESSIONAL SERVICES

Are banks and ATMs conveniently located? Do the banks have convenienthours of service?

How would you rate the adequacy of financial services for a community of this size?

What other professional services are available (accounting, legal, etc.)?Are there any professional services missing? Be specific.

COMMERCIAL SERVICES

What types of commercial businesses serve the local community (e.g., high-speed internet provider)?

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Professional, Commercial and Government Services (continued)

What commercial services appear to be missing in the community (e.g., printshop, industrial cleaning service)?

LOCAL GOVERNMENT INFORMATION

Are municipal offices conveniently located? Please comment.

How would you rate the availability and quality of the following informationprovided by the municipal government?

Community brochure/guide:

Business Directory:

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Community Profile (including business and industrial opportunities):

If applicable, were you able to find adequate information to make informedretail, commercial and/or industrial business investment decisions? (Answer only if you played the role of a potential business investor.)

Professional, Commercial, and Government Services (continued)

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PUBLIC INFRASTRUCTURERate each of the following for quality, accessibility, or availabilitywhere relevant.Public Transportation:

Sidewalks:

Streets:

Public Infrastructure and Planning

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Landscaping, Trees:

Public Restrooms:

Street Signage:

Pay phones, drinking fountains, benches, etc.

Public Infrastructure and Planning (continued)

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PLANNING

Do you see any conflicting land uses in the community (e.g., a residential subdivision next to a pulp mill)?

Are all land uses appropriate (commercial, residential, green space, etc.)?Specify where land uses are not appropriate.

Did you experience traffic or pedestrian congestion anywhere? If yes, pleasespecify location.

Are community facilities and infrastructure generally accessible for peoplewith disabilities? Please comment.

Public Infrastructure and Planning (continued)

Tourism/

Recreationetc.

TOURISM, CULTURE AND HERITAGE, FAITH, ENTERTAINMENTAND RECREATION ...............................................


Does the community have a strong tourism sector? Please comment.

Does the community have a slogan/brand? If yes, what is it?

Is the community well known for an attraction, event or festival? Are there anyevents/festivals held annually?

Are there any community events that could be expanded/developed to becomea tourist attraction?

Have you seen any attractions (natural or man-made) that could be developedto draw tourists?

Tourism, Culture and Heritage, Faith,Entertainment, and Recreation


Rate and comment on the quality and appearance of existing tourist attractions.

Do you consider any of the existing attractions to be underdeveloped? Pleasecomment.

SERVICES FOR TOURISTS

Is there a Visitor’s Center, Chamber of Commerce office, or other facility servingthe needs of tourists? Please comment on the staff, facilities, location, signage,marketing material, maps, etc.

Comment on the availability and selection of accommodation in the community.

Tourism, Culture and Heritage, Faith,Entertainment, and Recreation (continued)

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Are there facilities to accommodate a conference and/or a large number of visitors?

Rate and comment on the quality and availability of public restrooms.

Rate and comment on the quality of restaurants.


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Rate and comment on the variety/mix of restaurants.

Where do local residents recommend as places to stay, eat, and visit?

What local restaurant, specialty shop or attraction would bring you back to thiscommunity in the near future?

CULTURE AND HERITAGE

What community events are popular with residents?


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Do the residents feel there is a lack of community events?

Does the community have any heritage buildings? Are they well maintained?

FAITH/RELIGION

Comment on the number, appearance, and selection of religious buildings inthe community.

Are there any outstanding architectural or design features of religious buildingsyou visited?



What is your overall impression of religious buildings you visited?

ENTERTAINMENT

What does the community do for entertainment?

What entertainment opportunities do residents feel they lack?

Does the community have a vibrant night life? Please comment.


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RECREATION

Facilities

Rate and comment on the availability of and appearance of each of the followingtypes of recreational facilities.

Parks:

Public recreation facilities:

Private recreation facilities:

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Based on your impression, what do people in this community appear to do forrecreation?

What recreational facility (private or public) in this community surprised you?

What recreational activities or facilities seemed to be missing?

Rate the overall suitability of the recreational facilities for each of the following groups.

SUITABILITY GROUP(rating 1-10)

_______ Senior citizens

_______ Families

_______ Singles, young adults

_______ Teens

_______ Children (13 and under)



Information from Community Residents

Comment on the quality of information and assistance provided by residents and employees of local businesses.

Were community residents knowledgeable about their community? Explain.

Did they refer you to someone else who would help? If yes, who?

In general, did residents you spoke with have a positive or negative attitudetoward their community? Why? Did you sense community pride?


Did residents identify any particular issues to be of major concern (e.g., safety)?

Overall, how would you rate the quality of information from community resi-dents and business employees?

OTHER OBSERVATIONS

Describe the community using your senses.

Taste – Was there any specialty food item, bakery, restaurant or candy storethat you will remember?

Information from Community Residents(continued)

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Smell – Is there a scent that characterizes the community?

Sight – Was there any colourful or striking feature that made an impressionon you?

Sound – What sounds did you hear? Please comment on the level of noise inthe community.

How would describe the overall environmental health of the community (air quality, litter, noise pollution, etc.)?

What, if anything, did you experience that had a strongly negative or positiveimpact on the way the community felt to you? Be specific.

Information from Community Residents(continued)

Wrap-upWRAP-UP ..............................................................


The following questions should be discussed and answered as a group.

Was your perception prior to the visit accurate? In what ways was the communitydifferent from what you expected?

Did the information you collected prior to the visit accurately reflect what youobserved/experienced? Why or why not?

What is the most outstanding feature of this community?

Wrap-up


Would you consider this a suitable location for a young family? Why or why not?

Would you consider this a suitable location for a retired person? Why or why not?

Would you consider this a suitable location for a young single adult? Why orwhy not?

Would you consider visiting this community as a tourist? Why or why not?

Would you consider locating your retail or service business here? Why or why not?

Wrap-up (continued)


Would you consider locating a manufacturing business here? Why or why not?

List five positive things you observed about this community.

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What are three potential opportunities available to the community?

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2

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Wrap-up (continued)


What are the five biggest obstacles/challenges facing this community?

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5

What will you remember most about this community six months from now(positive or negative)?

What have you learned here that has changed your impression of your owncommunity?

Has this experience given you any new ideas about what is needed in yourown community?

Wrap-up (continued)


Describe ONE idea that you will borrow for use in your own business/communityand describe how you will start to implement it within the next 72 hours!

Other comments:

Wrap-up (continued)


PHOTOGRAPHER NAME:

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First Impressions Community ExchangePhoto Log


PHOTOGRAPHER NAME:

Photo # Description Location

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First Impressions Community ExchangePhoto Log (continued)


Notes

first impressions community exchange questionnaire

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